Following Thomas Tuchel`s first two victories as England manager in World Cup qualifying, Roy Keane remained unimpressed.
Tuchel achieved a milestone, becoming the first England boss since Fabio Capello to win his first two games, the latest being a 3-0 victory over Latvia on Monday.
Reece James scored a stunning 25-yard free-kick, marking his first international start in 18 months.
England faced initial resistance from Latvia`s defense, but Harry Kane scored his 71st international goal, and Eberechi Eze secured his first.
England dominated the match with 27 shots compared to Latvia`s three, eight of which were on target, securing their position at the top of Group K with six points.
However, Keane, analyzing for ITV, was not particularly impressed, believing England should have secured the win earlier.
Keane commented on ITV, stating, “If this were a school report, Tuchel would receive a C+.”
“I believe there is much more to come from him. These first two matches appeared straightforward on paper.”
“It`s a positive start for the manager, but considering the 27 shots tonight, these two victories were expected.”
“There are numerous areas for improvement. The final execution wasn`t exceptional, though substitutes did impact the game positively.”
“But I thought it was just OK. Simply OK.”
Keane also criticized Jordan Pickford during halftime for his part in a defensive mix-up with Marc Guehi when the score was still 0-0.
`That was missing` – A candid Thomas Tuchel expressed disappointment in Rashford and Foden`s England performances.
Tuchel, following a 2-0 victory against Albania on Friday, made four changes to his starting lineup.
James, Guehi, Jarrod Bowen, and Morgan Rogers were included in the starting XI as Tuchel explored different team options.
Kyle Walker, Dan Burn, Curtis Jones, and Phil Foden were replaced, with Foden having been previously criticized by Keane on Friday.
Mark Pougatch questioned Keane and Ian Wright about squad rotation and a manager`s strategy to evaluate players or provide rest to key players.
Keane`s response was characteristically direct.
He said, “I am a strong advocate for squad rotation. I believed in it… once I was playing!” A laughing Pougatch followed up with, “You didn`t believe it then?”
“No, not for my position,” Keane smirked, adding, “You can rotate everyone else!”
“Look, I understand the broader perspective. But, echoing Ian`s point, you perform well enough so that you become indispensable. Rotate others, not me!”
This match marked the first time in 33 years that an England team played without any players from Manchester United, Manchester City, or Liverpool.
Interestingly, it was also the first time in 33 years that an England defender scored directly from a free-kick at Wembley since Stuart Pearce against Turkey in 1992.
Keane also took a moment to aim a jibe at Arsenal during halftime.
He commended Myles Lewis-Skelly for earning the free-kick for James in the 38th minute.
Keane quipped, “Lewis-Skelly here… he`s clearly learned that skill well at Arsenal over the years. It’s a 50-50.”
